Cost Reduction

CHICAGO, August 27, 2025 – AArete, a leading global management and technology consulting firm, is proud to announce that Forbes has named the company among the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2025. AArete earned this recognition for its services, experience and expertise in the categories of Digital Transformation, Data Analytics, and Healthcare and Lifesciences.

Over the last decade, there has been at least a 15% decrease in branch locations across the U.S. as financial institutions have prioritized modernizing their digital offerings for customers and clients while also reducing costs by downsizing and closing branch sites. There is little dispute that this trend will continue over the next few decades as traditional branch customers get older, younger generations change banking and investing habits by adopting digital platforms, mobile banking handles more transactional needs, and operational economics point to digital channels as less costly options than physical branches.

Injectable GLP-1s for diabetes and obesity are the fastest-growing drug spend category for payers. Now, a new market entry from Novo Nordisk has changed the game. The Wegovy (semaglutide) pill is the first FDA-approved oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction. The monthly cost could be less than $150 (at the lowest dose) for cash-paying customers, significantly lower than the $1,500 cost of a weekly injection. For people with insurance, the cost may be as low as $25 per month when using manufacturer coupons. The convenience of oral GLP-1s, coupled with direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, will likely drive demand for specialty weight-loss drugs even higher in 2026. Health plans, already experiencing increased utilization and rising medical costs, must adapt their coverage and utilization management strategies without eroding member satisfaction.

Building better member relationships doesn’t happen overnight—it should be a multi-step and highly data-driven process. Healthcare payers must build a customized plan that scales to meet the goals of the business and members’ healthcare needs in the current regulatory landscape.